Actors - Witness

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	Actors - Witness

Witness is a 1985 movie released by Paramount Pictures and starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, and Lukas Haas. It was also the feature film debut of Viggo Mortensen, who appeared in a minor role. Directed by Peter Weir (his first American film), it was filmed in Philadelphia and Intercourse, (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania.

On August 23, 2005, a special collector's edition of the film was released on DVD. The DVD release came 20 years after the film's initial release.

Plot

While changing trains in Philadelphia with his mother, Rachel Lapp (McGillis), an Amish widow, Samuel (Haas), witnesses a murder of a police officer in the bathroom of 30th Street Station. Samuel identifies another police officer, Det. Lt. James McFee (Glover) as the murderer, and Det. Capt. John Book (Ford) hides Rachel and Samuel for their own protection. Book confides his investigations in his mentor and former partner, Chief Paul Schaeffer (Sommer). McFee attempts to murder Book, and successfully shoots him in the abdomen.

Knowing that Schaeffer and McFee are working together, he hides out at the farm run by Rachel's father-in-law, Eli (Rubes), where he takes her and Samuel. Forced to stay because he is still being hunted, he adopts Amish dress, participates in the community, and begins to fall in love with Rachel.

While visiting town, he calls home to find out that his current partner has been murdered. Knowing that it was Schaeffer, he contacts him and tells Schaeffer that he is coming to kill him too. He then gets into a fight with some local youths who are abusing his Amish companions, blowing his cover. The corrupt police officers from the city hear of this event, which is uncharacteristic of the Amish, and come looking for him.

During the confrontation, Book is able to kill "Fergie" by suffocating him in the corn silo, and then shoots McFee with Fergie's gun. Schaeffer, knowing he cannot kill all the Amish who are present at the fight, gives up. Book returns to Philadelphia and Rachel remains in Lancaster.

Academy Awards

Won - Best Film Editing: Thom Noble
Won - Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: William Kelley, Pamela Wallace, Earl W. Wallace
Nominated - Best Picture: Edward S. Feldman
Nominated - Best Director: Peter Weir
Nominated - Best Actor in a Leading Role: Harrison Ford
Nominated - Best Cinematography: John Seale
Nominated - Best Music: Maurice Jarre
Nominated - Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Stan Jolley, John H. Anderson

Witness Movie Experience Tour

Starting in 2005 - the 20th anniversary of the film's release - a Witness Movie Experience Tour was offered to tourists visiting Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. These tours have been criticized by many Amish defensive groups, who claim that it is another explotation of a community who wishes to be left alone, and called for boycotts.

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Actors - Witness

Plot

Academy Awards

Witness Movie Experience Tour

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